The First Military Region of the capital Shion City is separated by a wall from the Commercial Street, dividing the outside and inside into two worlds.
Compared to the bustling prosperity of the Commercial Street, the First Military Region, established within Shion City with its official name, undeniably exudes a solemn and heavy atmosphere, completely opposite to the outside clamor.
The wall separating the Commercial Street and the First Military Region is equally towering, much like the outer wall surrounding Konoha Village, but its sturdiness far surpasses the wall enclosing the whole of Konoha.
Although it has undergone a secondary spatial expansion, the interior still cannot compare to the size of a Ninja Village.
This is understandable, after all, Ninja Villages employ a management style of mixing ninjas and civilians, but the Land of Demons separates the ninjas representing military power from the civilians, managing them separately.
The ninja teams visible within Shion City are merely the Security Team used to maintain law and order.
Entering the administrative district, apart from necessary guards, there is neither a breath nor a sound in hideable positions, proving that the hidden guards have excellent concealing capabilities.
Silently producing so many powerful ninjas, Kakuzu becomes increasingly interested in what the Land of Demons intends to do in the future.
With organization, power, money, planning... the only uncertain factor remaining is what the aim is.
It's unlikely that it was put together just for fun.
Moreover, a forty-year work contract, to him, is nothing but a brief life experience.
Much like his nearly forty-year bounty hunting career, now it's just a different flavor of life.
This is probably the leisure of the long-living individuals, with no need to worry about lifespan issues at all.
Perhaps this is a very novel life journey.
"Hmm?"
The person responsible for leading Kakuzu in was not the Insect Man, but rather another military employee.
Passing by him was a man with black hair and quite handsome features.
He wore formal black attire embroidered with the Shion Flower, but on both sides of his shoulders, there was another emblem.
One could call it the also-renowned fan emblem.
It was the family crest of the prestigious Uchiha Race of Konoha.
This unfamiliar-faced man, is he a ninja of the Uchiha Race?
An emissary sent by Konoha?
No, without even mentioning that this place wouldn't open to outsiders, just the fact that this Uchiha ninja is wearing an official uniform with the Shion Flower emblem makes it immensely intriguing.
It can only mean one thing: this isn't a Uchiha ninja affiliated with Konoha, but one working in the military institution of the Land of Demons.
The lower-level staff member leading him in also gave a slight bow to that Uchiha ninja, appearing to be of relatively high rank, and had a usual expression on his face.
Interesting... Kakuzu remained impassive.
Even though this matter surprised him, it only stirred some interest in his heart.
As he suspected, the military institution in the Land of Demons is no simple matter.
From the way he walked and his posture void of weaknesses, this Uchiha ninja is at least of Jonin level, and in his current state with only one heart, Kakuzu might not even be his match.
This point, Kakuzu knows well.
"Mr. Kakuzu, we have arrived."
The staff member leading the way stopped in front of a door, knocked first; after hearing a voice beckoning 'please enter' from inside, he turned the handle to let Kakuzu into the office.
The office environment was simple, neither luxurious nor cheap, but somewhere between the two.
A pot of green plants adorned the windowsill, and there was a glass cabinet near the wall storing a thick collection of books, documents, and materials.
A man in his twenties sat by the desk, handling documents placed neatly on the desk, along with a cup of half-consumed tea.
After bringing Kakuzu in, the staff member quietly exited the office, leaving the space for Kakuzu and Hakushi.
"I've heard so much about you, Immortal Kakuzu. Please, take a seat."
Hakushi stood up from his position and made a gesturing invitation.
Kakuzu sat in the spacious chair prepared a little ahead of the desk, as Hakushi had requested.
"Regarding the work contract issues, I have already drafted it here; you can take it home first to read, then return it to me signed. If there are any unsatisfactory points, we can sit down and discuss slowly."
Hakushi took out a contract document from a drawer and placed it near Kakuzu's side of the desk.
Kakuzu didn't take it but stared at Hakushi with a strange yet understanding look.
"Are you a member of the medical ninja group from the former White Fang Squad of Konoha?"
Though it seemed like a question, his tone was quite certain of his answer.
After all, the persona with a forty-five million ryō bounty in the underground black market was a name Kakuzu wouldn't allow himself to forget, being adept at recognizing influential figures based on money.
He also understood what the so-called three leaders the Insect Man mentioned were.
Because apart from the captain, White Fang Hatake Sakumo, of the former White Fang Squad, who was dead, all three members betrayed Konoha, becoming internationally renowned S-Class Renegade Ninja.
Especially Hyuga Ayane, possessing the Byakugan, her bounty is almost at a billion ryō.
Having such worth at the age of just over twenty, surpassing even Hanzou and her teacher Hatake Sakumo is within immediate reach.
"Precisely so, I am also the direct superior of the Nokizaru Group under the leadership of the Insect Man. Nokizaru Group is considered a mysterious unit engaging in special operations under the military this side."